P. N. Bhagwati
Prafullachandra Bhagwati | |
|---|---|
| 17th Chief Justice of India | |
| In office 12 July 1985 – 20 December 1986 | |
| Appointed by | Giani Zail Singh |
| Preceded by | Y. V. Chandrachud |
| Succeeded by | R. S. Pathak |
| Judge of Supreme Court of India | |
| In office 17 July 1973 – 11 July 1985 | |
| Nominated by | A. N. Ray |
| Appointed by | V. V. Giri |
| 5th Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court | |
| In office 16 September 1967 – 17 July 1973 | |
| Nominated by | K. N. Wanchoo |
| Appointed by | Zakir Hussain |
| Preceded by | Nomanbhai Mahmedbhai Miabhoy |
| Succeeded by | B. J. Diwan |
| Judge of Gujarat High Court | |
| In office 21 July 1960 – 15 September 1967 | |
| Nominated by | B. P. Sinha |
| Appointed by | Rajendra Prasad |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati 21 December 1921 Ahmedabad, Bombay Presidency, British India |
| Died | 15 June 2017 (aged 95) New Delhi, India |
| Spouse | Prabhavati Shethji |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent |
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| Relatives | Jagdish Bhagwati (brother) Padma Desai (sister-in-law) Shardul S. Shroff (son-in-law) |
| Alma mater | Bombay University, Government Law College, Bombay |
Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati (21 December 1921 – 15 June 2017) was the 17th Chief Justice of India, serving from 12 July 1985 until his retirement on 20 December 1986. He introduced the concepts of public interest litigation and absolute liability in India, and for this reason is held, along with Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, to be a pioneer of judicial activism in the country. He is the longest-served supreme court judge (including Chief Justice to tenure) in India.